Google Docs Presentation Vs Paperworks!

Google Docs Tour: http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.html
Commoncraft: http://www.commoncraft.com/

GOOGLE DOCS?

• Create Documents, Spreadsheets and Presentations online
• Share and collaborate in real time
• Upload your existing files - DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc.
• Easily save and export copies. - You can save your documents and spreadsheets to your own computer in DOC, XLS, CSV, ODS, ODT, PDF, RTF and HTML formats. What about your Google presentations? Can you export them to PPT format?
• Edit and access from anywhere.
• Control who can see your documents
• Publish your work as a web page, or post it to your blog.

PRESENTATION TOOL?

• Import existing presentations in .ppt and .pps file types.
• Export your presentations using the Save as Zip feature from the File menu.
• Edit your presentations using their simple WYSIWYG editor.
• Insert images, and format your slides to fit your preferences.
• Share and edit presentations with your friends and coworkers.
• Allow real-time viewing of presentations, online, from separate remote locations.
• Publish your presentations on the web, allowing access to a wide audience.

PRESENTATION Vs POWERPOINT?
I suppose by now more than 10,000 bloggers have posted their reviews and opinions about this new Google tool, so there is no point in adding to that list as well (Just did! Google must be laughing in terms of free marketing and promotion. That is, if it is positive!). However, if you want an in-depth quality review, I strongly recommend that you read Robin Good's excellent reflections. If not, please keep on reading :)

Am I going to get rid off PowerPoint? Nope, because this tool is nowhere near yet, especially in the areas of developing dynamic presentations (Perhaps in a year or two)! However, this tool could be useful for sharing, one-place storage/access, and collaborating with others in conceptualizing and finalizing presentations (As for the dirty work, I would rather do it offline in PowerPoint!).

In short, if you can't afford PowerPoint, then perhaps Google Docs Presentation is your new baby presenter (Oops, or OpenOffice)! On the other hand, these two tools compliment one another more than they actually compete (for now at least!). Robin Good says it perfectly, "While PowerPoint fits perfectly the role of the feature rich creator and editor, Google Presentations provides all of the collaborative, sharing and publishing opportunities not available in the original product."

PAPERWORKS?
Interestingly, while everyone is getting so excited (or scared! Microsoft?) with Google Presentation, I got kind of caught up with another dynamic presentation format known as 'Paperworks'. Or more specifically, I was really impressed by some of the masterpieces constructed by Common Craft, which mostly create short videos in the format called 'Paperworks'. Their Instructional design strategy is to take a fresh look at a situation, problem, product or service and create a video that explains the issue in plain English so that a maximum number of people can understand it (using hands and customized paper!) . Alright, you might be wondering if this is the 70's show, so I better show you one example here entitled "Google Docs in Plain English".

Wasn't that Cool, Engaging and Easy-to-Understand! Also, now you know what Google Docs is all about in a nutshell. Here are three (3) more 'Paperworks' presentations by Common Craft, you might find useful:

• RSS in Plain English
• Wikis in Plain English
• Social Bookmarking in Plain English

In other words, sometimes neither Google Presentation nor PowerPoint is the appropriate solution. :)